The Joy of Glory

Romans 8 (click here)
There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.

For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us.

…the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words.

Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us.

…in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 8:1, 18, 26, 34, and 37-39)

Reflection
I don’t know where you are today or what you are currently going through. I don’t know if you’re experiencing good times or bad times. I don’t know what may be coming your way tomorrow.

But there are a few things I do know…

If you are “in Christ,” then no suffering you ever experience is condemnation towards you! There is NO condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. He took every ounce of condemnation we ever deserved and bore it in his flesh upon the cross, putting it to death in his death!

The sufferings of this present time are not condemnation, nor will they ultimately conquer us! They will give way to glory! Glory is coming! Ultimate, eternal, joy-filled glory! It may not feel like it, and you may not be able to see it right now…but ultimate glory will be revealed to all those who are “in Christ” when they finally see Christ (Revelation 22:4)!

When we see the brightness of his face…our sufferings will not even compare! Our sufferings will be like a flashlight set next to the sun…for Jesus face shines like the sun (Revelation 1:16). As bright and unbearable as all those sufferings felt…they will be outshined by the eternal-joy-giving-glory of Jesus!

That hope may seem faint right now when you are in the midst of a world and a life steeped in pain, but take heart… the Holy Spirit of God is praying for you right now, even when you don’t know how to pray for yourself. And, he is not alone… Jesus Christ is interceding for you! God the Father receives all these prayers! The every person of the triune God is involved in praying for you amidst all your pain! Take heart!

Pain, suffering, sin and death will not conquer because they will never separate you from the love of God that is yours in Christ Jesus!

I don’t know where you are or what you are going through today, but if you belong to Christ then I know this… wherever you are…you are with him…and whatever you’re going through… eternal joy in him is yours today and forever… and nothing can take him away from you!

You are in Christ… always.

*All previous devotionals may be found at www.thejoyofglory.com
*The complete SVCC Lenten reading guide is available here.

1 Timothy 2:5-6 (click here)
For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all, which is the testimony given at the proper time.

Reflection
“What is a mediator?” This was the question I received from my 9-year-old, Charis, just the other day.

She and her brother had been in an argument, and I ended up as the go between communicator as they were not on speaking terms. The situation was finally brought to a resolution and the two of them were reconciled. I simply said that I was glad I could be their mediator…and that statement spurred my daughter’s question.

“What is a mediator?”

How would you explain the answer to her? I did my best to use the situation she had just experienced… “A mediator is a go between. You and Levi’s relationship was damaged and you couldn’t talk to one another… you needed a mediator. Someone you would be able to communicate through.”

Charis simply looked at me and said, “Oh! Like Jesus!”

Sometimes kids get things more right than we could ever hope for. “Yes,” I said, “like Jesus.”

Our relationship with God was broken by our sin and there was no hope for reconciliation… not without a mediator.

We needed one who could represent man to God and God to man… we needed a God man. We needed Jesus. He is the one mediator between God and man…the only one…reconciliation is only possible through him…and it is possible because he gave himself as a ransom for our sin upon the cross!

What is a mediator?…or better yet…who is the ultimate mediator?

Jesus…simply Jesus.

*All previous devotionals may be found at www.thejoyofglory.com
*The complete SVCC Lenten reading guide is available here.

Philippians 2:5-8 (click here)
Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, [6] who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, [7] but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant… (Philippians 2:5-7)

Reflection
Jesus Christ is God.

All power, all wisdom, all present, all everything… all the time… God.

Yet, in his equality with God the Father, he did not consider is “all-ness” something to be “grasped,” or used for his own advantage. His power, wisdom, and glory was not something he used to abuse…no…he used his all to serve…to love.

He emptied himself…by taking the form of a servant. He poured out his “all-ness” for us, used all his power, wisdom, and glory for us.

He came in power, in wisdom, in might, in love, but not to be served, but to serve and give his life as a ransom for many (Matthew 20:28). The fact that Jesus emptied himself, doesn’t mean that he gave up being God… it doesn’t mean he gave up a single ounce of his divineness (if we can speak in such human terms)… no… it means he used all his divine power to serve… to love.

He poured himself out in love for his Father and in love toward us.

But perhaps the most amazing thing Philippians 2 has to say about this wondrous servant-hood of Jesus isn’t actually about Jesus, but about us. In verse 5 we read, “Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus.”

We, the church, are to have the very mindset of Christ. The mindset that takes everything within me that I could possibly seize and use for my own advantage, and pour it all out in service and love of others.

We are empowered by Christ, to show the love of Christ, by loving others in the same way he loved us… by humbling ourselves to serve.

Jesus Christ is God…and he emptied himself to serve, to love, to save.

If I truly know that Jesus, it shows as I empty myself to serve, to love, to show others I have been saved and they can be to…by Jesus.

*All previous devotionals may be found at www.thejoyofglory.com
*The complete SVCC Lenten reading guide is available here.